What Materials Do You Use?

We strive to bring you the best quality chain and jewelry pieces made to last with the proper care. Before we launch new products, they go through a durability and testing period to ensure they are fit to go through life with you. Below, you will find important details about the materials we use.

SOLID GOLD

• Used to define the purity of gold in jewelry, 14k refers to the amount of pure gold in a particular piece. Due to gold being such a soft metal, it must often be mixed with an alloy to make it more durable. Furthermore, in addition to rhodium plating, 14k is blended with durable metals such as nickel, copper, and zinc. 14k gold is 58.5% gold and 41.5% alloy. 

GOLD FILLED

Gold filled is a layer of gold pressure bonded to a base metal, typically a jewelers' brass.  It is becoming a very popular alternative to solid gold, because it's more durable, more affordable, and more versatile for different lifestyle and activities. Gold filled is different than gold-plated in several ways:

• Gold filled contains a substantial layer of 14k gold, rather than a microscopic layer of gold plating (or gold dipped). Gold filled is required by law to have at least 5% or 1/20 of gold by weight. Consequently, gold filled is worth more and maintains its value better than gold plated, which has a minimal amount of gold.  

• The process of pressure bonding makes the jewelry tarnish and chip resistant, unlike gold plating. This is why gold-filled jewelry is about double the price of gold-plated jewelry. A gold-filled finish will not flake off or chip and is tarnish resistant, if properly maintained and cleaned.

STERLING SILVER

Sterling silver is a 92.5% pure silver with most likely copper as the remaining metal.  Sterling silver is considered a precious metal.  Here are a few more facts about the metal:

• Although sterling silver is stronger than solid silver, it is softer than gold filled metal, and can be prone to scratching if not treated with care.

• Sterling silver tarnishes naturally and occurs with even the most expensive sterling silver. Tarnishing with sterling silver is caused by a chemical reaction between the sterling silver and the air and any chemicals that come in contact with it. Your skin oils and body chemistry may actually help to preserve the sterling silver.

• Although rare, some individual body chemistries can react with sterling silver and cause tarnishing. Pregnancy, thyroid disorders, hormone levels, medications and more can affect body alkalinity versus acidity, and may cause a reaction with your piece. It’s definitely a wild-card and is based on the individual.

Follow these suggested practices to ensure the long, beautiful life of your piece :

• Keep jewelry protected when using chemicals: shampoos, harsh soaps, lotions, makeup, hairspray, etc.
• Avoid abrasive materials like a terry cloth, bath towel, and shirt to polish your jewelry. We recommend using a soft cloth to gently clean your jewelry.
• When cleaning your piece, start by using mild soap and water and gently clean the piece with your fingers. Make sure your piece is completely dried when finished cleaning to avoid oxidation.